Folding bed



April 14, -1953 w. D. DRn/ ER FOLDING BED s sneets-sh'eet'l Filed June 29, 1950 Ewf i Eau n. Ll ---1| Inuantnr W'ILFRED .'D. DRVER Ell-r 1E. El.

PIH I4; 1953` w. D. DRIVER 2,634,434

f FOLDING BED Filed June 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q02 /f' '/5 VM y lnuentuf WILFRED Il. DRIVER; El M Pitt. Inl-:nag

W. D. DRIVER April 14, 19,53

FOLDING BED v3 sheets-sheet 3 :Lila

Filed June 29, 1950 Patented Apr. 14, 1953 OFFICE FOLDING BED Wilfred D. Driver, Thessalon Township,

, Ontario, Canada Application June 29, 1950, Serial No. 171,102

10 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in folding beds, and the object of the invention is to design a folding bed structure which when in the closed position simulates afireplace, mantlepiece and chimney breast adapted to be normally positioned against a wall of the room in which the bed is contained, orset within a suitable recess wherein the chimney breast face of the structure is iiush with the wall.

r A further and particular object of the invention is to so design the structure that the mattress supporting frame and mattress resting thereon is vertically positioned behind the fireplace, mantlepiece and chimney breast face when the bed is in the closed position, the mattress supporting frame being pivotally attached between the lower portions of the sidewalls of-the replace assembly and adapted to swing outwardly and downwardly when the bed is swung from the vertical to the horizontal position.

Another object of the invention is to mount the replace, mantlepiece and chimney l breast face assembly of the structure upon the lower or outer face of the mattress supporting frame, and

wherein the outer face portion of the fireplace asvsembly is hingedly secured A'to the under face of the mantle shelf structure to constitute a spring held supporting strut member having itslower edgerollable upon the floor to resiliently support the mattress frame when the frame is being swung into either the closed or the open position.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange vmy structure-that the bed may be made up in the normal manner before beingv swung from the open horizontal position into the` vertical closed position; a blanket retaining board being hingedly secured to the head of the bed for the purpose of pressing against the bed `clothes and pillows when the b ed is in the verticalclosed position, to retain the bed clothes and pillows against falling'out of place.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange the structure that the blanket retaining board is substantially vertical when the bed is open, and

to provide a reading light in the board lwhich projects upwardly through an oriiice in the board, the reading light being so mounted that it is retracted when the bed is swung from the open to the closed-position.

A further object of theinvention is to provide several compressible and elongatable spiral springs which assistin the bed opening and closing operations.

Another object of the invention is to furnish, in certain cases, Ian electric motor'actuated pull cableassembly which may be used for opening and closing the bed structure, and thus obviate any manual eort on the part of the person swinging the bed into either the open or closed position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as shall hereinafter appeal', my invention consists of a combined folding bed and simulated fireplace constructed and arranged all as hereinafter more particularly described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figrl is a front elevational View of the device in the closed position and showing the faces of the fireplace, mantle shelf and chimney breast.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view ltaken through the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the structure and showing the bed in the downwardly swung or open position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical'cross-sectional view through a portion of the bed supporting structure when inthe open position, and showing the bed strutV member spring tensionally elongated unde'r the action of the strut member in its forwardly extending horizontal position.

v Fig. 6 is a further enlarged vertical cross-sectional view through the rear portion of the structure, and showing the made-up bed contained therein, and

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the pull cable and electric motor assembly, being substantially taken breast face, fireplace and mantle shelf portions of the structurebeing positioned underneath the bed when the bed is in the open horizontal posivtion.

ylteferring lto Figs. 1 and 2, 2 is the fireplace aperture, 3 the mantle shelf, and 4 the chimney breast.v The mattress containing frame 5 is pivotally mounted v.between a pair of vertical side members which form the sides of the structure assembly. The mattress frame 5 may be pivotally mounted in any suitable manner. In the drawings I show a pair of plates 'I which extend from the lower face of the mattress frame 5 and are swingably supported upon a pair of pins 3 protruding inwardly from the inner faces of the fireplace sides 6. The pins 8 are in the form of bolts having nuts 3 threaded thereon.

The fireplace aperture 2 is surrounded by the usual rectangular panel frame Ill which protrudes beyond the plane of the face of the chim-v ney breast 4. The upper face of the frame I is swingably connected by'hinges II to the bottom edge of an open topped receptacle I 2 upon which the mantle shelf 3 is hingedly supported.

The panel frame I0 is faced with a pair of side panels I3. The frame I0 with its panels I3 has a dual purpose in providing a decorative effect for the fireplace face and also constituting a swingable mattress frame supporting strut which functions in vsupporting the mattress frame when it is being swung from the vertical to the horizontal position, or vice versa, as will be apparent upon reference to Fig. 4.

A pair of swingable guide levers I4 are provided to constitute steadyingbraces between the structure "and the swingable panel frame I0 when the bed is being swung. The guide levers I4 are pivotally connected at their forward ends to the upper corner portions of the rear face of the panel'frame I0, and at their rear ends are pivotally mounted upon bosses lI5 carried upon vthe upper face of the baseboard I6 of the structure. The rear ends of the levers I4 are formed with slots Il through which pins I3 von the bosses I5 protrude to slide within ythe slots. By Vthe provision of the pin receiving slots I7, the levers I4 are permitted to adjust themselves as the mattress frame 5 and panel frame VII! are vswung about their respective centres when thebe'dis'being opened or closed.

A pair of elongatable spiral springs I9 extend between the plates 'I and a pair of swingable arms are mounted upon the upper corner'portions of the rear face of the panel frame I0. Whenthe bed is in the closed position the springs I3 extend upwardly and forwardly from the bottom of the'vertical mattress frame 5 to the top of the vertical panel frame I0, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

When the bed is swung into the open position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the panel frame I0 is swung outwardly, and thesprings I9 are tensionally elongated and thus cushion the forward swinging movement of the panel frame I rolling upon the floor under the weight of the mattress frame 5 and contained mattress and bedding. Upon reference to Fig. 5 it will be seen that'the arms 20are so pivotally connected to the rear or under face of the panel frame I0, that when the bed is in the open position, the arms 23 rest against a stop 2I on the upper end of the panel frame IIJ, so that the arms are inclined downwardly whereby the lines of tension of the elongated springs I9 are so arranged that the springs do `not tend by themselves to lift the foot of the bed-from off the floor. The lower endof the panel frame I0 carries floor engaging rollers 22.

The under face of the mattress containing frame 5 constitutes in its upper portion the face ofthe chimney breast 4, and its lower portion which is positioned behind the fireplace panel frame I0 and side panels I3 when the bed is 'closed carriesa compressible spiral spring `23 4 which presses against the rear face of the panel frame I0 when the bed is in the closed position for the purpose of assisting such frame I in swinging forwardly when the bed is being opened. During the opening operation the frame Ii) swings clear of the outer end of the spring 23.

A blanket retaining board is hingedly secured to the `upper edge of the head member of the mattress containing frame 5 'and consists of two sections 24 and 25 hingedly connected together at their abutting edges. In order to retain the upper section 25 in alignment with the lower section 24 when the bed is in the open position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, a vertical brace member 26 extends along the back faces of the two sections. This brace is slidably and pivotally secured to-a bracket 21 on the section 24 and a bracket -28 on the section 25 whereby the sections are permitted to swing out of the aligned position shown in Fig. 4 into the position shown in Fig. 6 wherein they press upon the pillow v29 and blankets 3B resting upon the mattress 3| in the mattress containing frame 5. A supporting lever 32 extends forwardly from the back 33 of the structure and is pivotally connected at its forward end to the bracket 28 on the blanket board section 25. When the bed is closed the lever 32 extends downwardly in the position shown in Fig. 2, and as the -bed is beingvv opened the lever swings upwardly in a-clockwise direction as the 4blanket board rises, `as shown lin Fig. 4.

A bed light containing aperture 34 is formed within the blanket board section 2-5 and an electric light v-bulb 35 is mounted upon the lever 32 to project into the aperture 34 when the bed is in the open position and the blanket board extending vforwardly from the head thereof, as shown in Fig. 4. When the bed is swung upwardly to be closed, the lever 32 swings downwardly in a counterclockwise direction whereby the light bulb-35 carried thereon moves from out of the aperture 34 to extend downwardly behind the blanket retaining board when the bed is closed, as illustrated in Fig.2. The upper edge of the light containing aperture 34 carries a light deiiecting shade 36. VTo hold the blanket board tightly against the bedding on the mattress a c'oxnpressible `spiral spring 3'! is carried upon the inner face of the back33 of the structure vand vbears against the Alower section 24 of the blanket retaining board, whereby vthe board is pressed outwardly against Vthe bedding when th bed is closed, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The lower edge of the panel frame i0 carries a forwardly projecting hearth board 38 which rests upon the baseboard I6 and carries a fireplace fender and dogs 39 and 43. When the 'panel frame -lll is swung from the vertical posilboard I6. The lbolt is 'spring held inthe engaging position and is retracted by means of 'a pull cable 43 extending through guide eyes 44 toa foot actuated plunger 45, whereby actuation vof the plunger 45 'by the foot of the operator withdraws thebolt -IIIV 4from the bolt eye 42 to vent undue tensioning of the cable. end of the cable 54 is passed over a pulley 56 'upon a bracket 5l secured underneath the top board 41.

The pulley 50 has a drum 52 concentrically attached to its cuter face, and a pair of Acables 53 and 54 are wound oppositely to each other -upon the drum.

The free end of the cable 53 i's attached to -the end of a spiral spring 55 secured to the back of the blanket retaining board section 24, the spring being provided as a safety feature to pre- The free positioned at the base of the structure back 33 and is attached to the section 24 of the blanket retaining board underneath the point of attachm'ent of the-spring 55. The pulley 5G hangs upon thecable 54 and is carried by a cable tensioning-spiral spring 51 extending upwardly from the -rear edge of the baseboard i6. The pulley 50 is of a much greater diameter than the pulley l48 on' the motor 46 whereby the pulley 50 will rotate at 'a much slower speed than the Vmotor pulley 48.

` To lower the bed into the horizontal or open position, the motor is rotated in a direction whereby the rotation of the drum 52 pulls the cable 53 upwardly thus pulling the section 24 of the blanket retaining board upwardly whereby the mattress containing frame 5 is swung downwardly. In order to prevent undue strain upon the cable 53 when the bed reaches its vertical position, I position a clamp 58 upon the cable and provide an upwardly swingable brake bar ,59 upon the lower end of the bracket i and -which is adapted to bear against the rim of the 4pulley 50 in an upward thrust. The clamp 58 is 'so positioned upon the cable 53 that as the bed swings into its lowermost position, the clamp -58 engages the lower face of the brake bar 59 vto .swing such bar upwardly into braking engagement with the rim of the pulley 50, -whereby lthe pulley 50 is braked to a standstill.` The driving belt 49 between the motor pulley 48 and the pulley 5|)V is relatively slack so that when the pulley 50 is braked to a standstill the 'belt 49 will slip.

To raise the bed the motor 46 is rotated in the v:opposite direction whereby pull is exerted upon the cable 54 which draws the blanket retaining board section 24 downwardly to swing the mat- -`tress containing frame 5 upwardly into the :closed position. The cable 54 carries a suitably positioned clamp 60 which moves into engage- -gment with the brake bar 59 to stop rotation of the pulley 50 as previously described. When the bed is in the folded position the upper end portion of the section 25 of the blanket retaining board rests against a shoulder piece 6| carried upon the back 33 of the structure.

To provide a completely automatic actuation of the bed, a controlling switch for the electric ,motor 4G maybe incorporated within the foot operated plunger 45 wherein actuation of the "plunger to release the bolt 4| closes the switch to actuate the motor. vthe panel frame i5 is swung forwardly under the '.inuenceof the compressed spring 23 whereby Upon release of the bolt 4| 6 its lower edge rolls over the floor upon the rollers 22, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4'; the downward movement of the mattress containing frame 5 causing the panel frame l0 to swing forwardly against the resilience of the spiral springs i9 after the panel frame l0 passes out of contact with the end of the released compressed spring 23.

When the mattress containing frame 5 is raised either manually or through the operation of the electric motor 4G, the panel frame I0 is withdrawn under the tension of the spiral springs i9, a slight manual pressure being only required to return the panel frame into the closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have devised a folding bed structure particularly designed for placing against a wall or in a recess with the chimney breast flush with the wall and in which the face of such structure may be designed to simulate a fireplace. mantlepiece and chimney breast without interfering with the operation of the folding mechanism, and wherein I utilize the panel frame of the fireplace as a strut for supporting the mattress containing frame when it is being swung and when it is in the lowered position.

Although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I may make such changes and alterations as I may from time to time deem necessary, without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is: v

l. A folding bed structure of the character described comprising a pair of stationary vertical spaced-apart side members, a mattress containing frame pivotally mounted at its head end between the side members and swingable from a vertical position between the side members to a. horizontal position extending outwardly from the side members, a strut extending longitudinally of the bottom of the mattress containing frame and hingedly secured to the frame intermediately of the length of the frame and having its free end swingable from one end of the frame to the other, said Ystrut depending downwardly from the mattress frame in parallel relation to the lower portion of the mattress frame when the frame is in the vertical position and extending forwardly lin parallel relation to the upper portion of the mattress frame when the frame is in the horizontal position, a bed supporting member projecting from the free end of the strut at right-angles thereto and upon which the foot of the mattress containing frame rests when the frame is in the horizontal position, floor engaging rollers upon the free end of the strut, resilient means governing the swinging movement of the strut in relation to the mattress containing frameI a blanket retaining board hingedly secured to the upper vedge of the head member of the mattress containing frame, a back board extending between the rear edges of the two side members, a com pressible spring positioned between the blanket retaining board and the back board, and a vertically swingable lever for holding the blanket retaining board in .a substantially vertical position 'spaced-apart side members, a mattress contain- 76' ing frame pivotally mounted at its head end be'- and' v blanket Aretaining board, the upper section vofthe blanket retaining board having an electric Ulight bulb receiving orice therein, and an electween the side members and swingable from a vertical yposition between the side members to a horizontal position extending outwardly from the side members, a strut extending longitudinally of the bottom of the mattress containing frame and hingedly secured to the frame intermediately of the length of the frame and having its free end swingable from one end of the frame'to the other, said strut depending downwardly from the mattress frame in parallel relation to the lower` por- 'tion of the mattress frame when the frame is in the vertical position and extending forwardly in .parallel relation to the upper portion of the mattress frame when the frame is in the horizontal position, a bed supporting member projecting from the free end ofthe strut at right-angles thereto and upon which the foot of the mattress containing frame rests when the frame is inthe horizontal position, door engaging rollers upon the free end of the strut, a strut swinging elongatable spiral spring extending between the strut and the head end of the mattress containing frame, a swingable arm mounted upon the upper portion of the rear iace of the strut and to the ltree end or" which thespiral spring is attached, and a stop protruding downwardly from the upper-edge of the rear face of the strut and against which the-swingable arnrrests when the 4strut 'is-in the forwardly extending position and whereby the strut is inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of the spiral spring.

3; A Ifolding bed structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mattress containing frame is pivotallymounted between the side members interrnediately of the length of the frame and in the vicinity of the head end or" the frame, a blanket retaining 'board hingedly secured to the upper edge of 'the head member of vthe mattress containing frame and formed of lower and upper sections hingedly connected at their adjacent edges, a back board extending `between the rear edges of the two 'Sidemembers avertically swingablelever ior'holding the blanket retaining board *in a-"substantially vertical position when the bed -isieitheropened or closed, said lever being pivot- 'ally connected to the baci; board and pivotally Nconnected tothe upper section of the blanket retaining board, and a comp-ressible coiled spring V'interposed between the front face of the back jboard andv blanket retaining board. Y

A yfolding-bed structure as claimed in claim la; wherein the mattress containing frame is pivotallyrrnninted between vthe side members inter- :mediately'of the length of the frame and in the vicinity-of the head end Vof the frame, a blanket retaining board hingedly secured to the upper edge-of the head member of the mattress containing irame and formed of lower and upper sections hingedly Vconnected at .their adjacent edges, a back lboard Vextending between the rear posed Ybetween the front vface of the back board 'tric light bulb mounteduponthe vertically swing- ."able lever andpositionedto project into the oriijcejwhen the lever 'is vin its uppermost position.

et to engage the rim of the belt side which the cables pass,y

5. A folding bed structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base of the mattress containing frame is formed to-simulate a replace and chimney breast, and wherein the panel frame surrounding the fireplace opening is hingedly mounted and constitutes the swingable strut.

6. A folding bed structure of the character-described comprising a pair of stationary-vertical spaced-apart side members, a mattress containing frame pivotally mounted at its head end between the side members and swingableirom a Vertical position between the side membersto a horizontal position extending outwardly from the side members, a strut extending longitudinally of the bottom of the mattress containing .frame and hingedly secured to the frame intermediately of the length of the frame and having its free, end swingable from one end of the frame to the other, said strut depending downwardly from the mattress frame in parallel relation to the lower por.- tion of the mattress'fr'ame when the frame is in the vertical position and extending forwardly-in parallel 'relation to the upper portion of the mattress frame when the frame is in the horizontal position, a bed supporting member projecting from the free end of the strut at right-angles thereto and upon which the foot of the mattress containing frame rests when the frame'is in the horizontal position, floor engaging rollers upon the free end of the strut, a blanket retaining board hingedly secured to the upper edge of the head member of the mattress containing frame, a back board extending between therear edges of the two side members, a strut swinging elongatable Vspiral spring extending between the strut and the head end of the mattress `containing Vframe, a swingable arm mounted upon the upper lportion of the rear face of thestrut and to the free end of which the spiral spring is attached, and a stop protrudingdownwardly from the upper edge of the rear face of the strut and .against which the swinga'ble arm rests when the strut is in the forwardly extendingiposition and where'- by the strut is inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of the spiral spring i 7. A folding bed structure as claimed V.in .claim 1, wherein the Aswinging bed is power actuated by a reversible motor carried by the upper ends of the vertical side members, a motor driven cable drumfand a. .pair of oppositely wound cables'lextending from the drum and connected to the blanket retaining board, one cable being arranged lto pull the board upwardly and the mattress containing frame downwardly and the other cable arranged to pull the board downwardly andthe mattress containing frame upwardly under the influence of the rotated drum.

8. A folding bed structure asclaimed in claim l, wherein the swinging bed ispower actuated by a reversible motor carried by the upper. ends of the vertical side members a motor drivenbelt pulley, a cable drum on the motor concentrically attached to the lbelt pulley, 'a' pair of oppositely wound cables extending from the drumJand connected to the blanket 'retaining board, .one cable beingarranged to pullthe board upwardlytand the mattress containing frame" downwardly .and the other cable arranged to pull the board downv wardly and the mattress containing frame upwardly under the iniiuence of the rotated drum, a belt pulley and cable drum supporting bracket carried by the upper ends of the side members and a brake bar swingably mounted on the brackpulley and alongand adiustable clamps upon the cables provided to impinge against and swing the bar into braking engagement with the rim of the belt pulley.

9. IA folding bed structure of the character described comprising a pair of stationary vertical spaced-apart side members, a mattress containing frame pivotally mounted at its head end between the side members and swingable from a vertical position between the side members to a horizontal position extending outwardly from the side members, a strut extending longitudinally of the bottom of the mattress containing frame and hingedly secured to the frame intermediately of the length of the frame and having its free end swingable from one end of the frame to the other, said strut depending downwardly from the mattress frame in parallel relation to the lower portion of the mattress frame when the frame is in the vertical position and extending forwardly in parallel relation to the upper portion of the mattress frame when the frame is in the horizontal position, a bed supporting member projecting from the free end of the strut at right-angles thereto and upon which the foot of the mattress containing frame rests when the frame is in the horizontal position, floor engaging rollers upon the free end of the strut, resilient means governing the swinging movement of the strut in relation to the mattress containing frame, the mattress containing frame being pivotally mounted between the side members intermediately of the length of the frame and in the vicinity of the head end of the frame, a blanket retaining board hingedly secured to the upper edge of the head member of the mattress containing frame and formed of lower and upper sections hingedly connected at their adjacent edges, a back board extending between the rear edges of the two side members, a vertically swingable lever for holding the blanket retaining board in a substantially vertical position when the bed is either opened or closed, said lever being pivotally connected to the back board and pivotally connected to the upper section of the blanket retaining board, and a compressible coiled spring interposed between the front face of the back board and blanket retaining board.

l0. A folding bed structure of the character described comprising a pair of stationary vertical spaced-apart side members, a mattress containing frame pivotally mounted at its head end between the side members Iand swingable from a vertical position between the side members to a horizontal position extending outwardly from the side members, a strut extending longitudinally of the bottom of the mattress containing frame and hingedly secured to the frame intermediately of 10 the length of the frame and having its free end swingable from one end of the frame to the other, said strut depending downwardly from the mattress frame in parallel relation to the lower portion of the mattress frame when the frame is in the vertical position and extending forwardly in parallel relation to the upper portion of the mattress frame when the frame is in the horizontal position, a bed supporting member projecting from the free end of the strut at right-angles thereto and upon which the foot of the mattress containing frame rests when the frame is in the horizontal position, floor engaging rollers upon the free end of the strut, resilient means governing the swinging movement of the strut in relation to the mattress containingI frame, the mattress containing frame being pivotally mounted between the side members intermediately of the length of the frame and in the vicinity of the head end of the frame, a blanket retaining board hingedly secured to the upper edge of the head member of the mattress containing frame and formed of lower and upper sections hingedly connected at their yadjacent edges, a back board extending between the rear edges of the two side members, a vertically swingable lever for holding the blanket retaining board in a substantially vertical position when the bed is either opened or closed, said lever being pivotally connected to the back board and pivotally connected to the upper section of the blanket retaining board, a compressible coiled spring interposed between the front face of the back board and blanket retaining board, the upper section of the blanket retaining board having an electric light bulb receiving orifice therein, and an electric light bulb mounted upon the vertical swingable lever and positioned to project into the orice when the lever is in its uppermost position.

WILFRED D. DRIVER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 254,320 Horne Feb. 2S, 1882 1,105,203 La Vanway July 28, 1914 1,110,526 Beach et al Sept. 15, 1914 1,249,269 Beach et al Dec. 4, 1917 2,067,136 Bridenbaugh Jan. 5, 1937 2,114,581 Thum Apr. 19, 1938 2,316,681 Ferrier Apr. 13, 1943 2,398,550 Awiszus Mar. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 548,996 Germany May 9, 1932 

